Does powder go bad

[Fish to Win]

So tonight I had a nice Doe at 35 yards, pulled the trigger on her and all I heard was the 209 primer flame up but not the Triple7 pellets. I put a new primer in and the same S*** happened again. The pellets are 3-4 years old and are stored inside and in the black snap case it came in. I have not shot any of it since I sited my gun in 3-4 years ago and it worked fine then. My whole gun/breach was completely clean before hand. My question is, Does the powder/pellets get old or get moist over time?? Thanks-

[Boar]

Alls it takes is humidity and they can be altered, 3-4 yrs of sitting and humidity from time to time is all it takes. in a controlled envitonment like a gun safe humidity control, I dont think powder gose bad. not sure really but, what we think is a dry environment can have alot of moister in the air, even if we cant feel it, 3 yrs of sucking it out of the air can be all it takes. I know guys that dont unload after the hunt, just remove the primer, then get into a warm vehicle for the ride home then back out to hunt again in the warm vehicle and that condensation will leack down the barrel to the powder. buy new pwoder.

[Gordie]

I'm not surprised that had happened with yesterdays weather. I had that happen three times and what I learned from it is that if its cold in the morning and it warms above the freezing make through out the day I will change the powder for the evenings hunt, a couple of primers fired through a empty barrel before I head to stand works to dry out barrel

All it takes is the smallest amount of moisture to screw up the powder and click there goes the deer and one of the worst sinking feelings I have ever had was caused by the powder not going BOOM like its suppose to.

[96trigger]

I had one fizzle on me a few years ago, still using the same box of powder. It was a damp and misty morning when it didn't fire. I blamed it on the weather, not the powder. The powder has been working fine since. Maybe do a few test shots?

[Boar]

put a small rubber ballon over the end of the barrel, dose not effect accuracy and keeps all stuff out

[lawdog]

I think you should shoot the muzzleloader every year before season starts, 1 to make sure it is still sighted in and 2 to make sure everything is working. These things are a lot more finicky than picking up your Remington 700 and shooting factory ammo!

[mwal]

Those black storage boxes are not air tight like a container with lose powder and a gasketed lid. All powder will absorb moisture from the air. You did not say where your package of powder was stored if in a basement it most likely absorbed some moisture. Did you clean the flash hole in the breach just cleaning the face of it does nothing the fouling from the last time you fired could attract moisture and expand. My brother was having mis fires and sent me his rifle. It was meticulously clean except for the flash hole it was obstructed inside I cleaned some gunk out with an old nipple pick took it to the range and it shot with the pellets he swore where bad. See if you can see through the breech plug if not clean it out and test fire. If same result buy new primers and powder pellets and keep them in zip locks, tupperware or a dry box for long term storage.

Let us know what you find out. Hopefully you get another chance at a deer

Mwal

[O.T.C.]

Boar had a good idea for all really. In our gang, black powder users 0 misfires career, pellets = 4 which includes the last night of season to empty our old black mountain magnums.